The arch-pragmatist Mourinho is unashamedly results driven, and given his stubbornness he is hardly likely to compromise that because of a respect for the club’s history.

The reality is that supporters will care little as long as the team is winning, but if they are not, Mourinho’s style will simply make any simmering fan unrest boil over. Just look at their attitude to Van Gaal.

Jose Mourinho's most controversial quotes

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No regard for developing the kids

Supposedly one of the key tenets of the United ‘philosophy’ is an emphasis on bringing through young players.

From the Busby Babes to the Class of 92, and even to today’s team with the likes of Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Jesse Lingard, the club has put a premium on seeing home-grown talent given its chance.

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson would be nowhere near the first team under Jose Mourinho

The PR damage

Mourinho is almost universally disliked by neutrals, especially when placed next to the comparatively saintly Guardiola.

Mourinho is vastly less popular than Pep Guardiola

In a world where winning hearts and minds in far-flung countries is almost as important as results on the pitch, United would be scoring a massive PR own goal by appointing the former Chelsea manager.

The financial cost

It’s probably naïve to think that any Premier League club could be constrained by a concern as piddling as money, but Mourinho’s astronomical wages are surely worth considering.

Mourinho’s annual salary at Chelsea was believed to be around £10million, which although probably the going rate for an elite-level manager, is still a monumental amount of money. It would feel even more monumental if paid as one lump sum as a pay-off should Mourinho fail and have to be sacked.

In a season where the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Claudio Ranieri have excelled on much smaller salaries, United might want to consider hiring their next manager based on something other than hurling as much money as possible at the problem.

This is also known as the England Capello doctrine.

No guarantee of success

A major assumption with Mourinho is that yes he is high maintenance and can bring bad press, but his results justify the means.

The last few years though suggest Jose is no longer such a winning machine.